Kebigada has 124 million tonnes grading 1.03 grams per tonne for 4.1Moz, while about 35km to the east Barrick and AngloGold's Kibali has reserves of more than 30 million tonnes of reserves grading in excess of 4 grams per tonne for 4.1Moz.

Still, grade is only part of the development equation and the ASX-listed company reportedly remains confident.

"We believe we have a major gold deposit here at Giro, and Amani now has a very solid resource base to move to our aim of significant gold production from a new African gold mine," Amani said.

Kebigada is part of Amani's overall Giro project.

Further, chairman Klaus Eckhof has runs on the board given it was his Moto Goldmines earlier this decade that explored and delineated 12Moz (and completed a feasibility study) in the Kibali area that subsequently attracted a Randgold takeover bid - with Randgold itself thereafter being consumed by Barrick.

As a result of the new Kebigada resource estimate and "recent successful deeper drilling", a campaign of 6000m core drilling along strike and along the western edge of the deposit is expected to begin in May/June.

MNN was unable to reach Amani director Grant Thomas.

Amani issued a convertible note in January with a face value of A$2.1 million, and received a commitment from a firm called Neo Gold for $3 million in equity (with new shares being issued at 0.3c each), subject to shareholder approval at a meeting next week.

Shares in Amani were up 100% to 0.2c on turnover of $930 in midday trade.

At the price the company is capitalised at $12 million.